Terminology » WLAN » WiFi 6E vs WiFi 6: Key Differences Explained

WiFi 6E vs WiFi 6: Key Differences Explained

wifi wifi 6 wifi 6e wireless network 6 ghz

This article dives into the comparison between WiFi 6E and WiFi 6, highlighting the key distinctions. WiFi 6E essentially extends the capabilities of WiFi 6 (based on IEEE 802.11ax) into the 6 GHz frequency band.

This new spectrum offers up to 1.2 GHz of bandwidth and can accommodate around 7 channels with a 160 MHz bandwidth.

What is Wi-Fi 6E?

Wi-Fi 6E is designed to deliver faster WiFi connections with lower latency. These high-throughput connections are particularly beneficial for 5G applications. It opens doors to various use cases, including:

High-speed tethering
Multi-gigabit WiFi venue capacity
WiFi calling
Whole-home gigabit coverage
Augmented Reality (AR) / Virtual Reality (VR)

WiFi 6E

The illustration above shows the different bandwidths and channels supported by WiFi 6E across various frequency ranges. The table below provides a detailed breakdown. One of the main advantages of WiFi 6E over traditional WiFi is:

More Spectrum: Up to 1200 MHz of additional WiFi spectrum in the 6 GHz band.
Scheduled Traffic: Fully scheduled traffic ensures guaranteed low latency without channel contention.
Speeds: Offers speeds exceeding 1 Gbps, surpassing WiFi 6 and older WiFi standards.
High Capacity: Supports a large number of devices with cutting-edge technology.

Frequency Band	Number of channels / Bandwidth
2.4 GHz	3 in 20 MHz
	1 in 40 MHz
5 GHz	25 in 20 MHz
	12 in 40 MHz
	6 in 80 MHz
	2 in 160 MHz
6 GHz	59 in 20 MHz
	29 in 40 MHz
	14 in 80 MHz
	7 in 160 MHz

WiFi 6E devices, paired with Bluetooth 5.2, offer high-quality voice and music wirelessly. Modern Qualcomm FastConnect chips, like the 6700 and 6900, are engineered to support WiFi 6E and are being integrated into smartphones and VR headsets.

Difference between WiFi 6E and WiFi 6

The following table compares WiFi 6E and WiFi 6 based on various parameters, outlining their similarities and differences:

Features	WiFi 6	WiFi 6E
Frequency spectrum (GHz)	2.4 GHz, 5 GHz	2.4 GHz, 5GHz and 6 GHz (7 numbers of 160 MHz channels, no DFS)
Availability	Available now	Available in 2020/2021
Channel bandwidth	20, 40, 80, 80+80, 160 MHz	20, 40, 80, 80+80, 160 MHz
MU-MIMO	Downlink and Uplink (8x8 DL and UL)	Downlink and Uplink (8x8 DL and UL)
Modulation	16/64/256/1024 QAM	16/64/256/1024 QAM
Clients per channel	OFDMA - up to 74 clients (160 MHz channel)	OFDMA - up to 74 clients (160 MHz channel)
Max. Data Rate	~ 1.5 Gbps per device	Higher than wifi6 and other traditional wifi devices, 2.3 Gbps per device
Capacity (Number of channels)	Lower	Higher
Latency	Higher	Extremely lower
Network performance	Good	Better (In dense congested environments)
Coverage range	More (in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands)	Less ( in 6 GHz band)

Conclusion

Due to its high bandwidth, low latency, and increased number of channels, WiFi 6E represents the future of WiFi technology. As mentioned, it facilitates 4K/8K video streaming, real-time cloud gaming, high-speed data transfer, IoT (Internet of Things) applications, 5G integration, and more.